Ageing / aging
\ˈeɪˈʤiɪŋ\
The process of deterioration of the physical condition of a living organism that ultimately leads to death.
Whilst older people are more vulnerable to serious ailments that may cause death, ag(e)ing should be thought of as being quite distinct from disease.
As the world’s population gets older, understanding the ag(e)ing process in humans (or gerontology) has become increasingly important.
There are currently no treatments that stop or reverse the ag(e)ing process, but different lifestyles (e.g. diets, smoking, exercise, occupations) are believed to affect the speed at which ag(e)ing occurs. Some believe that rejuvenation (the opposite of ag(e)ing) may become a possibility in humans through technological advance: for example, through stem cells, biochemical repair or nanotechnology.